Cottonwood SWA: hunting rules and access
Cottonwood SWA is 884 acres of State Wildlife Area in Morgan County, Colorado, in game management unit 96. CPW lists deer, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turkey and waterfowl for it, and its rules for the property run to 6 lines: 3 on its page for the property and 3 in its regulations.
| Kind | State Wildlife Area |
|---|---|
| County | Morgan |
| Game management unit | 96 |
| Size | 884 acres |
| Coordinates | 40.3398, -103.5544 (middle of the boundary CPW maps) |
| Map | Open Cottonwood SWA on the map |
| Acres inside the boundary CPW maps | 1,048, against 884 on CPW's page. Both are CPW's own figures, and they do not agree |
| Among CPW properties in unit 96 | 4th largest of 12 by the acres on CPW's pages, 9% of their 10,068 acres together |
| CPW's page read | October 8, 2026 |
A State Wildlife Area has its own rules on top of the statewide season rules. How the kinds of public land differ.
What CPW lists for hunting here
Deer, Dove, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Turkey, Waterfowl.
A species on this list is one CPW names for the property. It still needs an open season, the right license for the unit, and nothing in the restrictions below against it on your dates.
Who may enter
A valid hunting or fishing license OR SWA pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing this state wildlife area.
Restrictions on CPW's page for this property
- A. Open 4 a.m.-9 p.m.
- B. On opening weekend of regular plains rifle deer season and first day and weekend of late plains rifle deer season, only deer hunting permitted.
- C. Launching or takeout of vessels prohibited during waterfowl seasons.
In CPW's regulations
- a. Public access is prohibited from 9:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m.
- b. All recreational activities, except deer hunting, are prohibited on the opening weekend of the regular plains rifle deer season and on the opening day and first weekend of the late plains rifle deer season.
- c. The launching or takeout of vessels is prohibited during waterfowl seasons.
From CPW regulations, chapter W-9 (Wildlife Properties), 2 CCR 406-9, dated July 16, 2026.
Read it at the source before you go
The rules above are CPW's words, copied from CPW's page for Cottonwood SWA as it read on October 8, 2026 and from the regulations for CPW properties. CPW can change them or close the property at any time, signs on the ground count, and a rule that names a season moves with that season each year.
Unit 96, around Cottonwood SWA
- Elk in unit 96, 2024: 15 hunters in all seasons took 3 elk, 20% success (2023: 30% from 20 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 15 hunters, 20%. Unit 96 elk by season
- Deer in unit 96, 2024: 656 hunters in all seasons took 191 deer, 29% success (2023: 22% from 658 hunters). The rifle seasons alone: 509 hunters, 32%. Unit 96 deer by season
- Unit 96: 247 square miles in Logan, Washington and Morgan Counties, 0% national forest and 0.3% BLM land, from 3,900 to 4,500 feet.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife survey estimates for the whole unit, private land included. They are not figures for this property, and whether elk or deer may be hunted here is in CPW's list above.
Nearest CPW properties to Cottonwood SWA
| Property | Distance | Direction | Mapped acres | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elliott SWA - Hamlin Tract | 3.1 miles | north-east | 229 | 95, 96 |
| Elliott SWA - North Hamlin Tract | 3.4 miles | north-east | 132 | 95, 96 |
| Elliott SWA - Union Tract | 4.1 miles | north-east | 170 | 95, 96 |
| Brush SWA | 4.1 miles | south-west | 891 | 96 |
| Elliott SWA - Lone Tree Tract | 4.4 miles | north-east | 1,543 | 95, 96 |
Straight-line miles between the middles of the boundaries CPW maps, not road miles. A property can be much nearer at its edge.
More CPW properties in unit 96
Atwood STLAtwood SWADune Ridge SWAElliott SWA - Quint TractJean K. Tool SWAKnudson SWAMessex SWAOverland Trail STLOverland Trail SWAPrewitt Reservoir SWA
All 721 State Wildlife Areas and State Trust Lands
Have a tag for this fall?
A FilledTag plan checks the rules of any CPW property it uses against your species and your dates, and gives you one exact plan: where to park, camp and sit, with every pin checked against public land and road rules.